Review – Miles From Nowhere @ Marlborough Hotel
Newtown 19 June 1999
The
Marlborough – where the mainstreamers come to Newtown
for their brand of entertainment. With the promise of an original set as well
as some covers from Brisbane pop-acoustica artistes Miles from Nowhere we had
to be there for at least one of those sets. The cliched 2Day playlist fulfilled the quota of
overworn ‘faves’ from the 80s.
For an all-acoustic band, MFN
pack a decibel-filled punch! Unfortunately it was a little too loud and not
mixed too well initially but the songs still stood out for what they are! I was
assured that most of tonight’s originals were new from demos for the
forthcoming LP so I stepped back a little for a better look (despite the
obligatory pole centre-stage) and listen.
Tonight’s set
featured those harmonies that we know from their two EPs and previous
excursions to State-of-Origin-Runner-Up
City. Most of the supporters tonight comprised the first three rows while the
rest of the room seemed disappointed that these were not the covers they were
promised. It should be noted, though, that almost none of the punters that came
through the first set left before I did! Standout performances tonight at the
Marly included My Girlfriend Is
Smarter done a-capella, Chermside
172 with a Pennsylvania
6-5000 swing to it, the catchy formula-pop of Inside Out
and Bullet Proof, and
my personal favourite Brain from the
first release.
Through the first
set, the guys showed why they are at the level they have attained in their
careers. Chris
had a ball on his side of the stage while nominated spokesperson Ben kept the crowd
amused between songs from his end. While the crowd in general lost interest
from Pelican Bones to Tide, despite
the bass-riff during Pelican, they
all knuckled down to the task at hand which was made easier once 172 was launched. Set 2, the dreaded
covers, was actually quite inspirational. Featuring top-shelf interpretations
of ‘standards’ which included Simon
& Garfunkel’s Mrs
Robinson, David
Bowie’s Ashes to Ashes and The
Police’s Message
in a Bottle, as well as a beautifully rendered Last
Goodbye by Jeff
Buckley, those that came for the covers were left agape from the
more-than-note-for-note versions of songs they know and love from the radio.
Miles from Nowhere are not just
your average animal-band. Their acoustic originals emphasise their love of
close harmonies developed over years as close friends, while their cover-songs
keep the corporate and gigs-like-these bookings coming. As one music critic
would say, “do yourself a favour” next time MFN play your part of the country